Pakistan’s magic leprosy healer Dr Ruth Pfau passed away early Thursday morning at the age of 87 in Karachi.

The founder of the National Leprosy Control Programme in Pakistan, Dr Pfau passed away around 4am today. The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, August 19, at 11am at St Patrick’s Cathedral, and thereafter will be laid to rest in the Christian Cemetery (Gora Qabristan).

Dr Pfau dedicated her life to treating patients in Pakistan. She founded the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre in Karachi and in all provinces of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan. She had treated over 50,000 families since the inception of the centre.

Dr Pfau had been living in Pakistan since 1960 and came to the country when she just 29. When she witnessed the suffering of the country’s leprosy patients she decided to stay here. She was a German nun and a member of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary, who devoted the last 50 years of her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan.

She had travelled to various parts of Pakistan to medically facilitate leprosy patients, a journey she said enjoyed tremendously because of the marked difference made in the lives of her patients.

With her efforts, in 1996, the World Health Organisation declared Pakistan one of the first countries in Asia to have controlled leprosy. She was awarded the Hilal-e-Pakistan in 1989 and Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 1979 by the government of Pakistan. Dr Pfau was also on the front line when Sindh was hit by floods in 2010.

In December 2015, Dr Pfau, was awarded the Staufer Medal at the German consulate. “I could have left Pakistan earlier if I wanted to but I will stay here,” said Dr Pfau as she accepted the award from German consul-general Rainer Schmiedchen.

A ceremony was organised at the German consulate to mark Dr Pfau’s services and for the German consul-general to award her with the Staufer Medal, the highest award of the German state of Baden-Württemberg for her work to eradicate leprosy in the country.

“When I came to Pakistan no one recognised me but then people started to appreciate my work across the country,” said Dr Pfau of the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre. “I have worked hard with my team to eradicate leprosy in Pakistan, our hard work could not completely eliminate this disease but at least we managed to decrease it,” she said. “This award is not just for me but for all of my teammates,” Dr Pfau added.

Sad to hear about the demise of Dr. Ruth, what an inspirational lady. May she rest in peace and God have mercy on her soul. To acknowledge her great work, she should be give a State funereal. Recommend

Dr Ruth Pfau was undoubtedly a massiha of peace and healing for the people of Northen areas of Pakistan who were suffering from a terrible disease Leprosy.
She landed in Pakistan from Germany in 1958 whe she was 30 and devoted her entire life serving the ailing community of Pakistan
I salute to her passion of devotion and mission
I am lucky to have read a paper about her book 9n PTv Islamabad back in 1988-89
God bless her soul rest in peace
Dr.Anwar Zahidi Recommend

A great devotee and fighter against leprosy in Pakistan. Somebody rightly called her as mother Teresa of Pakistan. I have the unique honour to meet her in Balakot just before I started my medical school. She always remained an inspiration for me. I am sure she will be remembered as the friend of humanity and Pakistan. Hope her funeral would be carried out with the officials present to honour her in her last journey.Recommend